Page:Speech by Sir John Forrest - Western Australia - 1900.pdf/15

 the Australian markets free instead of having to pay the duty as at present.

What harm can Federation do to the gold miner? How can it hurt him? Peale have said to me, "Will you go to the goldfields and address the people on Federation?" I replied, "I don't see any reason to do so. They will all vote for Federation." (Applause.) My questioners have said, "Why?" I replied, "Because it suits them. It is to their interest. You would never get a people so united as they are on this question if it were not that their interests are identical. They know that they can sell their gold at £3 17s. 10$1⁄2$d. per ounce at the Mint, and they want everything they require to purchase as cheaply as they can get it. That being so, they are all in favour of Federation, as they believe it will be to their material advantage." I do not wish to be understood that I deny to the people on the goldfields the same feeling of patriotism we all have, but there is a feeling as deep if not deeper than the desire for nationhood. There is the desire to do well, and to avoid being impoverished, and that feeling affects us all to some extent—some more than others. (Laughter.)

The manufacturer is afraid Federation will injure him. I may say that if the manufacturer is of opinion that the voters of the colony are anxious to further protect him, the voters have ample means of doing so, They can protect him for another six years under this Federal Bill, There is nothing whatever to prevent the local Parliament altering the Tariff Act in any way it likes up to the time that uniform duties are established. (Applause.) After uniform duties have been established the local Parliament can for the next five years during the operation of the sliding scale reduce duties, but they cannot raise them to a higher point than they were when uniform duties were established. That is all plain sailing; everyone knows that. Therefore, I say that if we are anxious to protect to a larger extent than 5 per cent, (the present duty) those who make machinery, or those engaged in other mechanical works, the people of the colony can do so now, and will be able to do so for another year at least. (Applause.) We must remember also that the iron-worker, the man who makes machinery, had no duty at all from 1895 to 1898. Machinery was imported into the colony free of duty from 1895 to 1898, It was only in 1898, about a year ago, that 5 per cent. was placed on machinery. I do not know how the iron-worker got on during those three years, perhaps badly. (Laughter.) If we desire to give him more protection we can give it to him another year, which can last until the five-years sliding scale expires. And the same with clothing. The clothing manufacturer from 1893 to 1898 had no protection whatever, There was 10 per cent. on the raw material, and there was 10 per cent. on apparel and slops (ready made clothing). would ask how the manufacturer got on during those five years, but since that time he has had a 5 per cent, margin. It is now 10 per cent, on the raw material, and 15 per cent, on apparel and slops. If we want to pay more for our ready-made clothes, we can do so at any time up to a year hence, when probably uniform duties will apply and the sliding scale will of course come into force.

The same remark applies to our coal. If it is in the interest of the colony to protect our local coal, Parliament can protect it. The coal producers possibly want a duty on imported coal, and if it is considered advisable there is no reason why we should not have it. It is a matter which is entirely in our own hands. But we do not like to put duties on imported coal, though we do not mind the Commissioner of Railways making a preferential rate for the local coal. It is the same actually. We may just as well put a duty on as to grant preferential rates. The one causes the loss of revenue, and the other loss of customs. I say to every producer, whether a producer from the soil or a manufacturer, if the people in this colony desire that they shall be better protected than they are for the next six years, the people of this colony, during next year through their Parliament, will have an opportunity of